Definition: Employment at will means that an employee can be terminated at any time without any reason. It also means that an employee can quit without reason. Employers are not required to provide notice when terminating an at-will employee.
Employee Rights
Employees do have rights when their job is terminated, including contract rights, company policy, and statutory rights provided by federal and state law. There is information available on employee rights that will help employees understand what they are entitled to and to get assistance if they believe they have been discriminated against.
Employment at Will Exceptions
There are exceptions to the employment at will doctrine including if the employee is covered under a collective bargaining agreement or has an employment contract, if discrimination is involved in the termination, if public policy is violated, or if company policy states guidelines for termination.
Also Known As: At Will Employment, employment-at-will, employment at will doctrine
